All You Need to Know About Hip Bursitis
Hip Bursitis is a condition that is characterized by swelling and pain of the bursae. The bursae are essentially fluid-filled sacs that offer cushioning to the tendons, muscles and ligaments. While working normally, the bursae can help the ligaments, tendons and muscles to smoothly glide over the bone. However, when bursae get swollen, the area just around them eventually become very painful and tender. Trochanteric Bursitis is a condition that involves swelling of the hip bursae. Bursitis not only affects the hip, but it can even develop in the knee, shoulder and the elbow joints. Bursitis may be either chronic (long-lasting) or acute (short-lived).
The symptoms of Bursitis may include tenderness and joint pains. You can experience a lot of warmth and swelling in the affected area. The resulting pain is frequently sharp during the first couple of days and then become achy and dull as time passes by. You can experience the pain especially when getting out of bed or a chair. The pain may also shoot up when you stand up after sitting for quite a long time or sleeping on the affected side. Acute Bursitis can flare up over several hours or days. A case of chronic Bursitis may last anywhere between a few days to multiple weeks. The chronic form of Bursitis may even go away and then come back again. A case of acute Bursitis may become chronic if it comes back and/or aggravated by a hip injury. The area affected by the bursa may eventually become thick and this can worsen the swelling. It can also lead to weakened or atrophied muscles and limited movement.
There are a number of causes that may lead to Hip Bursitis. These include stress or repeated overuse of the hip, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, pseudogout, hip injuries, bacterial infections, diabetes, bone spurs, uneven leg lengths and spine problems like scoliosis. A physician may carry out a thorough checkup of the patient’s body and may recommend imaging tests like X-rays and MRI scans to see the presence of Hip Bursitis.
The main treatments for hip bursae involve making use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen for relieving pain and swelling. A physician may also recommend you apply an ice pack over the affected area, as it can help to reduce swelling. Make sure to steer clear of activities that can make the symptoms worse. It is important that you rest as many hours as possible during the day. Once the pain subsides approximately a few weeks later, you should perform some exercises as it can help to prevent the muscles from getting atrophied. You can get in touch with a physiotherapist to learn about the exercises that can be beneficial for you. In most cases, Hip Bursitis affects the ability of the patient to move freely. This is particularly true for chronic Bursitis. If that is the case with you, then it is recommended that you make use of physical therapy to get back on your feet.
